Saturday, September 17, 2005
Accident Report 3rd Sept LBUG ride Loganlea to Yatala Pies and return.
Seemingly an innocuous pleasant Saturday ride with a mixed bunch of sociable riders.
I was fueled up well at the ½ way pie stop and felt pretty good for the return leg.
I remember well our leader giving directions as we stopped at the lights intersection of City & Boundary, Beenleigh “down the hill crossing to the bikepath at the bottom , no probs” or something similar.
The lights change and we’re off ( I think about ten of us in the bunch). I remember I was about number 4 as we fairly romped down the wide Boundary road, which was almost deserted.
All was beautiful until…. that bloody hot Torana. WHAM
What happened?? Well looking back it happened so quick but I have like mental video clips that I can replay fairly clearly…I see the riders in front of me sweeping to the bikepath about 40 meters in front and then I see the Torana coming from the side street ..I am urging him mentally to make eye contact (this bit plays in slow motion) he is still looking right to the cyclists disappearing down the bike path but his car is still coming thru the corner (thru a stop sign for which I was not aware at the time but my thoughts would have been he will stop upon entering a major road… WRONG).
I was in a sweeping line crossing from left of the road to his territory on the right and I guess my mind was taking this course to the bike path when I realized he was never going to stop or see me. I applied all my energy to the brakes and they were working well, my speed was reduced from an estimated 35km/hr to almost full stop. I think I did deviate a little left but nowhere near far enough to clear the oncoming vehicle.
All to quickly there was no way out as I let out one almighty expletive coinciding with the sickening knowledge I was going down. My almost new bike finishing up in a disheveled heap, not a nice way to finish my pleasant Saturday ride.
Ambos, Police arrive minutes later…I am a dazed but apart from a couple of deep cuts and bruising to my lower legs, I am ok and very lucky to be still walking. I opt to bypass the hospital trip and take the offer of a mate’s car to home and the disgruntled wife
A couple of lessons I will definitely take from the experience. NEVER cross the road to the oncoming traffic side although it appears relatively safe….the uninvited happens at twice the speed. There is no escape because of the combined collision speed.
By traveling in a group I was lulled into a false sense of security thinking that drivers will be more aware but No No No it appears that drivers may be distracted from the road by the attraction of other cyclists in lycra especially if the group has a few sporty females in the pack.
One is under a bit of peer pressure to follow in the tracks of those in the lead even if you know that sometimes means unsafe road practices. Try to resist or make doubly certain it is safe to carry out the short cut maneuver.
Ken Munyard
13th September 2005
